Jane Velez-Mitchell NY Book Party for “I Want”
Art Harris, with author Jane Velez Mitchell
By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved
It was a celebration of Jane Velez-Mitchell’s big heart, guts and gutsiness for telling her story, “I Want, My Journey from Addiction, and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life” (HCI, $24.95), and now a New York Times Bestseller.
“It’s a little strange to throw a cocktail party to celebrate sobriety, but we can handle it, now,” she laughed, grabbing the mike at the hip, Peter Max art gallery on the Upper West Side Wednesday night to thank her CNN host and employer for the soiree, her staff and all the guests who appear regularly and irregularly, including Marc Klaas, Dr. Robi Ludwig, the TV therapist who also appears on Nancy Grace, and Dr. Jeff Guardier, author and popular TV psychologist as well–and her deep bench of New York attorneys and cops.
We whipped out our Sony flip cam, a tiny Webbie HD, to catch her talk, and learned how hard it is to hold steady, drawbacks in low light and audio limitations, but it still picked up Jane’s dynamo energy, gratitude and awe.
Marc Klaas, in from San Fran to surprise Jane
With her 93 year old mother, beaming proud, and her Superagent, NS Bienstock’s, Carole Cooper, standing nearby, Jane spoke about her struggles, and her triumph, a daily reprieve, and called out her staff and old friends who came from around the city and the country to be there, including missing child advocate Marc Klaas, who flew in from San Francisco with his wife, to surprise her.
We’ll be putting up some photos from the party, and excerpts of Jane’s speech soon…No one is more deserving, evidence that good things happen to good people and nice girls (women) finish first.
As the host of HLN’s show, “Issues,” Jane has laid out her personal travels and travails with alcohol, sugar binges, sexuality and self-esteem, an inspiring book that has prompted upwards of 100 calls a day to the network thanking them for allowing her to be so open about an issue shared by millions of Americans. Who would have dreamed a television network would give her so much freedom to be herself and share her struggles, strength and hope with viewers, she said, personally thanking her bosses, executive producer and staff on video we caught on our shaky Sony flip cam and posted below.
We asked Marc Klass about the Haleigh Cummings case, and his spat with fellow child finder, Tim Miller. He said he’d read Miller’s snide comment about his daughter, Polly, on The Bald Truth, and shrugged it off. Miller has since apologized, and Klaas says it won’t affect his own dedication to helping parents through the Haleigh crisis as a highly respected child advocate.
He shares the struggles of every parent who lives his nightmare; his daughter, Polly, was kidnapped and murdered, and other grieving and frightened parents of missing and murdered children are encouraged by the foundation he started in memory of his daughter, KlaasKids Foundation.
He makes himself available to parents of kidnapped children, and has appeared frequently on Larry King Live, CNN Headline News Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell, and Nancy Grace.
Dr. Robi Ludwig, TV guest therapist, with Art
A few other media notables cruised in say, ‘Go, Jane,’ including CNN daytime anchor, Kyra Phillips, on station as an embedded reporter aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during the Iraq war, where she saw Navy fighters roar off the aircraft carrier to support Marine units like the light armored reconn unit I was embedded with in bloody Nasirya. Also: CNN American Morning anchor John Roberts, who has covered everything from war to politics; we rode the bus together during the 2004 and 2008 Presidential elections, when I was covering the candidates, their families and celebrity media types for Entertainment Tonight and The Insider.
Jane Velez-Mitchell Thanks Partygoers
October 30th, 2009 at 10:00 am
This is a great article. I really love the Marc Klass I see on TV shows re missing children. He has a “fire” in him that is so sincere. I would want him on my side if this issue was close to home.
October 30th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Congratulations Jane, you are a very special person. I would like to say I love your show.
Art thank you for this wonderfully written interview. You both look like you are having a great time. It is great to get together and support your friends and cheer them on in their accomplishments.
October 30th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Art, please don’t support this screeching ,hollering, gavel pounding idiot. She can’t do 5 minutes of her show unless she is mouthing off about her book. “I WANT” her to just shut up.
October 30th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I’m pretty darn sure…
Put your mouth where…
Or what’s your teeth worth…
Or who cares if you can’t get free healthcare…
Or can’t eat right.
Or don’t even know what really tastes good.
I’d say ’simple sam’ says jump…
And Obama, lord luv ‘em…he’s just a man to US…
Hope he’s a mighty godly one…over seas!!!
October 30th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
I have to lower the volume when Jane is on…She is too loud. I wish she would show her feminine side more…She is lovely, but it seems she is trying to hard to make her show work, and in doing so she comes off harsh, and much too loud..IMO
I noticed Klaas didn’t offer an apology to Miller when talking to you Art…He, too, is a loud mouthed, know it all.
Miller has a proven track record..How many missing children has Klaas found? I want Miller around if I ever face such devastating news…
October 31st, 2009 at 8:03 am
Art,
Could you please ask Jane to do away with her mullet hair style? Ugh!!!
October 31st, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Yeah Art! I’ve been wanting to read iwant, I just ordered a Kindle, and most likely will be getting it. All the shows on HLN have the same basic format: repetitive shocking news stories with sometimes lackluster fact checking. The mainstream news is changing so quickly, I think HLN does a pretty good job most of the time. I like Jane, though she’s a wee bit too feministic for my taste, her heart is in the right place. Addiction is taking over as a huge social disease and I commend Jane for not being ashamed to holler it any chance she gets.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Art,
I’m glad to see a Happy Story like this. They are News too as you show. I think alot of people will be helped by Jan’s story. It takes guts to make your struggles an open book.
You, Jane and Mark look great.
Some people don’t like a good story and would rather be gloomers and doomers.
Different strokes for different folks. Jan has been a “voice” for Haleigh as well as you and Mark and I thank you all for your tireless efforts to keep us briefed on her. Have a happy weekend.
I for one plan on buying 2 of the books to give as gifts that will really be a life changer. Jan doesnt do anything half-way. Don’t worry folks, you will get to read at your own “volume”. Thanks again, Art !
You Rock !
Take care.
Debbe
October 31st, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Talk about oxymoron….
Cocktail party to celebrate sobriety…..
What a mixed message!!!!!!
Sorry….I can’t handle this.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Ilove Jane’s courage and strength to speak out about her addictions. I too am a recovering alcoholic and at first was ashamed. I now realize that there are alot of people out there struggeling with addictions and won’t talk about them for fear of other people’s reaction. Every one know someone with an addiction and if we bring it out in the open like Jane has, more people will seek help and be open about there problems.
November 1st, 2009 at 12:16 am
I do somewhat agree what kynanna and Mary are saying about Jane,She could tone it down a bit,I think she is trying to hard to get her point across.As for Mark Klass I think he is great.Years ago I remember seeing Polly’s missing child poster up in the window of our local Fays drugstore here in upstate New York.He is very dedicated by keeping his daughters memory alive through his works of helping other families with missing children.I also think Tim Miller does great work too.I only first heard of him when he was working on the Natalie Holloway case.Oh and Art I can’t forget to mention you and all the great reporting you do here,on NG and JVM.
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ThankS, Pam–Art
November 1st, 2009 at 1:30 am
Jane is gay, not that there is anything wrong with it.
November 1st, 2009 at 10:46 am
I, myself find Ms. Jane Jane Velez Mitchell’s show, Issues to
be current and filled with great passion (on the part of Ms.
Jane Velez Mitchell). The gave is a fantastic way to settle
debates and their volumes without talking over guests.
Regarding her most recent book, it appears to me that the
network has a lot to do with the promotion. There are a
couple of other books heavily promoted by people working
for the same network. I plan to purchase Ms. Jane Velez’s
book. Thankfully, my life has not been riddled with the
multiple life threatning problems Ms. Jane Velez Mitchelle
has endured, and addressed. If she inspires people to better
themselves, as I believe this book will, many lives will be
vastly improved, and many saved!
Ms. Jane Velez Mitchell has boldly exposed the multiple
faults which exist in her life and how she manages them.
Three cheers to Ms. Jane Velez Mitchell for pulling herself
out of the trenches. May the sun always shine on her!!
November 1st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
The first paragraph, second sentence should read as: The gavel is a fantastic way…
November 1st, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Dear Mary,
Give Jane a chance!
Reminds me of a song.
November 1st, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Hope everyone had a nice Halloween.
November 1st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Amen! I wish Jane Valez Mitchell would speak normally instead of screaming. I enjoy her show and Nancy Grace’s alot better when they have a substitute filling in.
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:23 am
Oh, Art. Thanks for the good article. I’m glad you were able to go and do the meet/greet while covering the event. Talented man.
We love Jane for her gifts–she’s not perfect, nor are any of us.
By the way, you looked so much better than the other guys there. Good wardrobe choice!
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 am
Art, how far apart are these missing children, Haliegh, Somer, Caylee and any others within the past 5 years. Could it possibly be one person involved in all these cases? I am talking about geographical locations or miles apart. Just a thought.
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Edie–I’d take Caylee out of the hypothetical as highly unlikely if not impossible. Art
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Freida:
I think it’s Give Peace a chance
, but your point is well taken..I am giving her a chance; in fact, I am watching her now, and either I am in denial, or my hearing if off tonight, but she doesn’t seem as loud..I didn’t even have to lower the volume..WooooHoooo
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Yeah, I’ve noticed, too!
Practice makes perfect, I guess.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:21 am
ps…I still don’t believe she’s ‘you know what’…
just think that sex sells
books or just about anything these days…
Like life is so boring we just crave some kinda’ excitement…
“I Guess”
(hey that could be the title of my book, lol)
November 4th, 2009 at 8:24 am
The woman is addicted to being addicted. UGH!
November 4th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Art, PLEASE fix your site, it’s hard to read sometimes. There is an html error somewhere.
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Angie: pls send me some details what seems to be wrong?? not heard it from anyone else, but will check…tx art
November 28th, 2009 at 2:46 am
With all the new technology (i.e.; gadgets)…pretty soon we’ll no longer need a stenographer.
Just ‘tape’ the ‘trials’ and let ‘voice recognition software’ replay ‘the scripts.’
Jane giggled about needing ‘therapy’ on her show!!!